Creating a gathering space

We cleared the backyard of the Pine Hill Community Center, an unused empty lot with high weeds and uneven ground, used by no one. We will be building flower boxes, planting bee and butterfly-friendly flowers and shrubs and strewing wildflower seeds.

We are looking forward to using the space to teach kids about their fellow creatures and gardening, and also as a meeting space for our weekly “social circle,” a dynamic bunch of older community members. Many of them live alone and really look forward to this company and conversation.

We may well plant a tree in the “new” backyard to remind folks of the reason we established the Center 20 years ago, to celebrate growing and surviving all that’s come our way during the past two decades, and our plans to serve the community during this tough time and into the future.